Living on your own means dealing with your own laundry. Apartment buildings usually provide in-unit machines or shared laundry rooms, but you’re on your own when it comes to detergent, stain remover, and more. To help you stay on top of that pile of dirty clothes, here’s a list of the laundry essentials you should always have on hand.
Laundry Hamper
The Flats at 345 have in-unit washers and dryers, but most Cowgill communities have a shared laundry room for tenants. You’ll need a laundry hamper or basket of some sort regardless, but if you’re going to be carrying stuff from your apartment to the laundry room, you might want to invest in one that’s easy to carry around. If you have a washing machine in your unit, pick up a simple plastic basket. If you’re going to be transporting your laundry, you might find that a collapsible hamper or laundry bag is easier to use.
Dryer Balls or Sheets
Tossing in a dryer sheet before drying your laundry can leave your clothes feeling softer and help to reduce static electricity. If you don’t want to buy dryer sheets every few months, reusable dryer balls are a great alternative. Unlike dryer sheets, they’re hypoallergenic, natural, and sustainable (Most options last up to 1,000 loads of laundry!). You can even add a few drops of essential oils to your dryer balls for natural fragrance.
Detergent, Fabric Softener, and Stain Remover
Detergent and fabric softener are the shampoo and conditioner of laundry. You’ll need detergent to deal with dirt and sweat, but you can use fabric softener, too. Be sure to also keep some stain remover in your apartment in case you need something stronger than detergent.
Ironing Accessories
If you want wrinkle-free clothing, you should invest in an iron and ironing board. You can purchase a mini or tabletop ironing board if you’re worried about storing a full-size one. Not a fan of ironing? Look into small, handheld steamer options. In addition to being perfect for small-space living, they’re also great for traveling!
A Roll of Quarters
Residents can pay to wash and dry their clothes, and see real-time machine statuses, using an app called CyclePay at The Axis at 1435, studios180, The Reserve at Merrick, and more. However, some apartment communities — like our very own Belmont Run and Cove Lake Village — still have coin-operated machines, so it’s always a good idea to have some quarters handy. It costs around $1.75-2.00 to wash a load and $1.50-1.75 to dry one.
